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Algea issues

S

Sprayman60

Member
Joined
17 Jan 2022
Messages
164
Location
East midlands
Hello I've got some Black algea which is starting to get worse. May be BBA

Can anyone help identify it please and what's the best way to get rid of it?


Thanks
Kaelan
 

Please read the guidelines for Algae help!

Dear Member Please give as many details as possible regarding your aquarium set-up, when requiring advice/help! The above will be posted at the start of each help request. Why do we ask these questions? It will stop the member posting multiple times, plus adviser's don't need to scroll through...
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70L
2 MONTHS
Eheim 4+ 350 with glass lily pipe
Water change once a week 70%
Tropical specialised 6ml per day but now changed to premium
Fish neon tetras and galaxy rasboras
Just broke glass skimmer but algea was there before that
Pressurised C02
20221006_141359.jpg
 
Hi all,
Tank (and plant health) looks really good.
Sprayman60 said:
Tropica specialised 6ml per day but now changed to premium
Click to expand...
I have to ask why? Really for both, why Tropica? and why the change?
Sprayman60 said:
Hello I've got some Black algea which is starting to get worse. May be BBA

Can anyone help identify it please and what's the best way to get rid of it?
Click to expand...
We have a couple of threads <"What exactly causes BBA?"> & <"What exactly causes BBA? Part 2 - Bacterial imbalance">, but you would have to say that they are inconclusive, at best.

cheers Darrel
 
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You will need to upload a Image of the said Algae!
When was the last time you cleaned the filters?
I would open them up and see if they need cleaned!!!
 
From what I can see the bba seems to be affecting the moss. My suggestion would be to give the moss a buzz cut, a no2 or a high and tight. Rest of the plants look healthy 😁
 
dw1305 said:
Hi all,
Tank (and plant health) looks really good.

I have to ask why? Really for both, why Tropica? and why the change?

We have a couple of threads <"What exactly causes BBA?"> & <"What exactly causes BBA? Part 2 - Bacterial imbalance">, but you would have to say that they are inconclusive, at best.

cheers Darrel
Click to expand...
Thanks

I started off with tropica as it was a complete all in one fertiliser and it obviously works for me. The swap was an experiment to see the difference in colours and growth rate of the plants, i have seachem products to so if any adjustments are need, nitrogen for example. any problems i can just change back

Thanks ill have a read
 
John q said:
From what I can see the bba seems to be affecting the moss. My suggestion would be to give the moss a buzz cut, a no2 or a high and tight. Rest of the plants look healthy 😁
Click to expand...
yes it is mostly the moss and carpet plants, the filter has been cleaned this week. what do you mean by the n02 or high and tight?
 
Hi all,
Definitely Black Brush Algae.
Sprayman60 said:
yes it is mostly the moss and carpet plants, the filter has been cleaned this week.
Click to expand...
The filter bit is because we suspect that high level of dissolved organic compounds may be implicated in the growth of Red Algae (but <"particularly StagsHorn (Compsopogon sp)">). If you have a very dirty filter, or one that is stuffed full of media, then <"oxygen levels may fall"> in the filter and <"dissolved organic compounds build up">.

Because "plant / microbe" biofiltration is much more effective than "microbe only" filtration we don't need the dense and sticky biofilms that you might be reliant on for nitrification if , for example, you kept a large fish load in a non-planted tank.
Sprayman60 said:
what do you mean by the n02 or high and tight?
Click to expand...
@John q just means cut the effected moss and leaves off, just like a No.2 buzz cut at the barbers.
Sprayman60 said:
I started off with tropica as it was a complete all in one fertiliser and it obviously works for me. The swap was an experiment to see the difference in colours and growth rate of the plants,
Click to expand...
OK. I'd probably swap back, purely because plants can only <"make use of the extra CO2"> if none of the mineral nutrients are deficient.
Sprayman60 said:
i have seachem products
Click to expand...
There is nothing wrong with "Tropica Specialised", it is <"just an expensive option">, but I have a bit of an issue with <"Seachem fertilisers">.

cheers Darrel
 
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dw1305 said:
Hi all,
Definitely Black Brush Algae.

The filter bit is because we suspect that high level of dissolved organic compounds may be implicated in the growth of Red Algae (but <"particularly StagsHorn (Compsopogon sp)">). If you have a very dirty filter, or one that is stuffed full of media, then <"oxygen levels may fall"> in the filter and <"dissolved organic compounds build up">.

Because "plant / microbe" biofiltration is much more effective than "microbe only" filtration we don't need the dense and sticky biofilms that you might be reliant on for nitrification if , for example, you kept a large fish load in a non-planted tank.

@John q just means cut the effected moss and leaves off, just like a No.2 buzz cut at the barbers.

OK. I'd probably swap back, purely because plants can only <"make use of the extra CO2"> if none of the mineral nutrients are deficient.

There is nothing wrong with "Tropica Specialised", it is <"just an expensive option">, but I have a bit of an issue with <"Seachem fertilisers">.

cheers Darrel
Click to expand...
Thank you for the reply

It could have been to do with the filter which started it, I have cleaned it all so hopefully that helps.

I will be swapping back to the tropica specialised or something similar if there's cheaper options


I've gave it all a good trim including the moss which could of been causing a big problem as its holding a lot of waste
20221010_210123.jpg
 
Hi all,
Sprayman60 said:
something similar if there's cheaper options
Click to expand...
Have a look at <"Solufeed 2 : 1 : 4">.
194028-990fda8d7ca18595fa3e661c0b0ce91c.png

..... <"as times are tough">, just a quick working of cost, based upon the figures above (adding 20 ppm NO3 a week) and the cost of the fertiliser (I'll go with the £13 I paid earlier in the year for a kilo (1000 g) of fertiliser).
@kellyboy47 would need to add 5.4g of fertiliser a week (20 ppm NO3 as 2 * 10 ppm doses). I'll round that up to 6g to take into account spillage etc.

So 1000 / 6 = 167, so that is enough fertiliser for 167 weeks (or 3.2) years <"at a cost of ~8p a week">.

£13 / 167 = 7.8 p.
Click to expand...

solufeed_elemental-jpg.jpg

cheers Darrel
 
Quick update! I trimmed the tank again a few days ago, still have BBA but looks like I'm getting new growth in the moss and looks healthier.

The reds aren't showing as much ATM but I had removed most of it, still looking good and filling out well

6 new amano shrimp added yesterday
20221026_172738.jpg
 
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